Chair and like seating



R. BAILEY CHAIR AND LIKE SEATING 2 Sheets$heet 1 Filed June 3, 1959Sept. 13, 1960 R. BAILEY 3 9 v CHAIR AND LIKE SEATING Filed June 3,,1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 CHAIR AND LIKE SEATING Robert Bailey, London,England, assignor to J. Cinnamon Limited, London,'England Filed June 3,1959, Ser. No. 817,867

Claims priority, application Great Britain June 5, 1958 3 Claims. (Cl.1'5'5-179) This invention relates to resilient seatings for easy cha1rs,settees or vehicles (hereinafter referred to as chairs), of the typewholly or mainly employing tension p ngs;

.This kind of tension spring seating where loose cushioning is employedhas the disadvantages that the tension spring arrangement in timebecomes impressed on the underside of the overlying cushion, and may besuch astomake-the cushion unsuitable for reversal, and that the tensionspring arrangement requires .a substantial and thick upholstery or loosecushion (usually of foam ruh her) which is expensive. v

.Anw aim ofthe present invention isto provide a' seating structure whichwill avoid these disadvantages by eliminating the liability of the saidspring impressions and by providing for the use of a thinner or lessexpensive overlying cushion.

The invention consists in a resilient seating structure comprising anupper deck of canvas or other flexible materlal .of an outline congruentwith the shape of. the chair framing in the region of the seating plane,supported at theedges on tension springs arranged more or less parallelwith the seat framing and anchored to said framing; a lower .deck ofconvas or other flexible material spaced vertically fromand'preferablyof sub stantially less area than the upper deck .to aiford re-.

silient support mainly in the buttocks area and supported by tensionsprings radiating or extending outwardly there from to said chairframing; anda relatively thin resilient cushion of an area substantiallyconfined tothat of the.

buttocks, secured sandwichwise between the two decks,

' In carrying the invention into effect various embodiments of theresilient seatingwill behereinafter describleld with reference to theaccompanying drawings in Whic Figure 1 is an isometric view of a chairhaving one form .of resilient seating embodying the features of theinvention... 7 I

1 Figure 2 is aside elevation of the chair shown in Figure1. ,1

Figured is a planview taken on line 3'-3" of-Figure 2 showing thearrangement of the springs supporting the pper k ft s a i g. f f VFigure 4 is a plan view taken-online 4 -4 of Figure 2 showing thearrangement of the springs supporting the lower deck of the seating withthe intermediary cushion removed.

Figures 5 to 9 are partial plan views of various modified forms of theseating showing various alternative arrangements of the springssupporting the lower deck.

Figure 10 is a partial plan view of a further modified form of theseating showing an alternative arrangement of the lower deck and thesprings supporting the same.

With regard to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 4the resilient seating of the chair 1 is formed by two spaced decks ofcanvas or other flexible but inextensible material disposed one abovethe other to form an upper deck 2 and a lowerdeck 3. Each deckisindependently supported within the area defined by the chair framingstructure in the region of the seating plane l and formed by sidemembers 4 by tension springs 5 and 6 anchored to brackets 7 secured tothe chair at or adjacent the corners of said framing structure. Thebrackets each have a of spaced arms or lugs 7a and 7b adapted forreceiving, or attachment to, the ends of the} deck supporting springsand each bracket is secured to the framing structure with one of thelugs thereon re,

cated above the other so that theuppermost lug 7a of each bracket liessubstantially in the plane of the upper deck 2 and the lower lug 7b liessubstantially in the plane of the lower deck 3. The area and outline ofthe upper deck 2 is generally congruent with the shape of the chairframe structure in the region of the seating plane and a tubular pocketor "seam 8 is provided at each of the four marginal edges of the deckeach to receive a tension spring 5 formingpart of the resilient supportfor the upper deck. Each spring 5 extends through its respective pocket8 generally parallel and closely adjacent to a side 4 of the seat framestructure and its ends are anchored to the uppermost lugs 7a of two ofthe corner brackets 7.

The upper deck 2 is thus supported at the edges by four tension springs5 and the tension in these springs is such as to exert a pull on theupper deck tendingtotighten and stretch the same across the area definedby The: lower deck 3 is spaced vertically from, but is preferably theseat framing structure in the seating plane.-

of smaller area than, the upper deck 2 to afiord resilient supportmainly in the buttocks area and is supported by tension springs 6radiating from the corners thereof to the corner brackets 7 on the chairframe structure in the region of the seating plane.

The lower deck 3 is preferably of quadrilateral or:

. rectangular form generally similar in outline to that of the upperdeck 2' and the four corners thereof are each. turned or folded overandsecured to provide an oblique. tubular pocket or loop 9 at eachcorner of the deck; A rod or bar 10 is passed through and locatedwithin;

. each pocket 9 with the ends: of the rod or bar protruding; slightlybeyond the ends of the pocket. A pair of tension: springs 6 are eachattached at one end'to one of the;

protruding ends of each bar 10, and the other ends of the-springs areanchored to the lower lug 7b of a bracket 7 secured to the adjacentcorner of the framestructure; The rods 10 spread or space apart the endsof the springs- 6 attached thereto so that each pair of springsconverges outwardly of the lower deck towards the adjacent corner?bracket 7 and assumes a generally V formation. The.

tension in the springs 6 retain the lower deck 3 stretched taut in aplane below and substantially parallel to thatof the upper deck 2. Theresilient seating is completed; by a relatively thin resilient cushion11 which is located.

sandwichwise between the two decks 2 and 3. The cushion ll'may be offoamed rubber, plastic or any suitable re:

s'ilient padding material, andisprefera-bly enclosed withina cover orenvelope which may be secured, detachably or otherwise, to one .or bothofthe: decks tov retain the cushion in position." .Alternatively,7;thecushion. 11 may; consist of an envelope enclosing a series of shortcompression springs arranged in any known manner.

If desired, a further relatively thin cushion (not shown) may beprovided for overlying the upper deck 2.

It is to be understood that methods and means other than hereinbeforedescribed may be employed for attaching the tension springs to the edgesor corners of the upper and lower decks respectively. Eyelets, forexample, may be provided in the edges or corners of the decks to receivethe ends of the springs.

Modified or alternative arrangements of springs to that described abovemay be provided for supporting the n tnte Sept. 13, race lower deck 3such as shown in Figures 5 to 9. As shown in Figure 5, each corner ofthe lower deck 3 has an oblique tubular pocket 9 with a spreader barpassing therethrough with -.the. ends -t-hereof. protruding therebe-.yondinaa similar. mannerto. that described .above withl regard toFigures :1 to.4. A pair..ofstensionasprings. 6 each attached .at one endtotoneof the. protruding ends. o the..bar..--10 extend outwardlyparallelto.eachiother.

to vthe adjacent corner. of thewchair. framing .andare... anchored -attheir outer .ends..on the lower lug..7b ofthe bracket-.7.

.I n the arrangement shown .inFigure 6-each.corner of, the lower. rdeck-3 is provided with an eyelet. 12..-and. .a pair-.oftensionsprings-6,:disposed .co-axially one .within. theotherp aresecured at one end to.said:eyelet..12 and-. extend outwardly to theadjacent corner .ofchair frame, the-outer. ends ofthesprings6.beinganchored .to the lower lug-r7 b of the bracket :7 in the .cornerof the frame. With .-:.regard .to the arrangement shown .in Figure 7 7.a paint-of tension springs -7 are secured :at one .end toanv eyelet 12provided .inxeach corner ofthe lowerzdeck 3 and: extendoutwardly totheadjacent cornerv of chair, frame. The outer ends of thesprings 6 areanchored to -the lower lug 7b of the bracket 7 in the -corner of the -sframe-.-.'inispacedrelationship sothat the springs assume a V formation.and-diverge-outwardly ofsaid. corner. of the deck 3.

In-:the arrangement-shown in Figure 8 a single tension spring-6 issecured at one end to an .eyelet 12 in each corner. of the lower deck .3and anchored at its outer end :to thelug 7b ofthe bracket 7 in theadjacentcorner of the chair frame.

The-arrangement of the tension. springs .6 shown in. Figure '9.generally similar to that described herein? before inirespect of.Figures- 1 to .4- for supporting the: lowercdeck 3, but; in addition tothe springs 6, further tension springs 13 are provided, each extendingfrom an: eyelet: 12 located on each edge of the lower deck-3intermediate the corners-thereof to a suitable bracket or'rlug'14located .on'each side frame member 4 intermediate the corners of theframe-structure. AlternativIely, any of the spring arrangements shown inFigures 5: toL8 may be substituted for that shown in Figure 9.-Furtheryit is contemplated that more than'one tension. spring 13.may belocated between each edge of the deck 3- andadjacent side frame member4. I

The .upper deck as applied to a quadrilateral seat framing and referredto hereinbefore, will have its edges parallelito isai'd. framing with:the lower deck similarly 1 orientated..i It will be appreciated thatwith a modified syst'emmriarrangementof springing the lower deck couldbe disposed diamondwise withrespect to the quadrilateral chair framestructure-in theregion of the seating plane. An ex-ample of thisarrangement is shown in Figure 10 wherein the outer endstof springs 6arranged as describedhereinbefore with? reference :to. Figures -1ito 4,insteadof beinglanchored. to bottom. lugs. of brackets 7 are anchored tobrackets 14locatedon the side frame 'mem-. bers '4 intermediate 1 the.corners .of thetframe: structure.

Alternatively, any of the. arrangementsrofthe -corner 6 springs 6 shownin Figures :5 I to' 8 may be. substituted for supporting the lower deckdiamondwise with respect to the quadrilateral chair frame structure.

Where the invention is applied to chairs or the like with seat framingsother than quadrilateral, i.e. tub chairs, it will be understood thatthe upper deck will have an outline conforming to the particularconfiguration of such seat framing. In these latter circumstances, thelower deck may be .shaped similarly to the upper deck or it may bequadrilateral.

The resilientiseatingmay'be applied to a chair having any known form ofback support, resilient or otherwise,'or such .seatingmay equally.wellb'e applied to a" chair in combination with'a resilient backsupport formed by spaced flexible decks. supported by tension springswith a cushion sandwiched therebetween in a manner. similar 'to' that"described hereinbefore'with regard to the seating.

I claim:

1. A resilient seating structure for a chair comprising an upper, deckofcanvas or other flexible material of an outline congruent withthe shapeof the chair framv ing in the region of the seating .plane, supported atthe edges on tension springs arranged more or less parallel with theseat framing and anchoredto said framing; a

lower deck of l'canvas orother flexible material spaced vertically fromand preferably of substantially less area than.the upper'deck to afiordresilient support mainly in the buttocks area and supported by tensionsprings radiating or. extendingoutwardly therefrom to said chair framinganda relatively thin resilient cushion of an. area. substantiallyconfined to that of the .buttocks, secured,

sandwichwise between the. two decks.

2. A resilient seating structure as claimed in claim 1. wherein thechair framingin the region of the seating,

plane is ofquadrilateral form, both. decks are disposed within theconfines of said chair framing in the. regionof the seating planewith-their edges-parallelto the sides thereof,fthe.t-ensionspringsysupporting the edges ofthe upper deck" are anchored .atthecorners of said chair.

framing, and the tension springssupporting-the. lower. deck radiate fromthe corners. thereof towards ,the.ad-. jacent cornersof "the chair.framingto which they are anchored.

V 3;"Aresilie'ntseatirig structure for a chairhaving seat framing ofquadrilateralform comprising, a resilient cushion. interposed"betweenltwo vertically-spaced decks of canvas or likeflexiblematerial,"each-resiliently supported. independently ,of the other.within-the confines of the seat.

framing, the uppermost decklhavinga quadrilateral outlinecorrespondingjto ,theshape of the seat framing and beingsupported atitsedges by tension springs anchored to .the corners .of the seat. framingto extend parallel to the .sides of said.framing,..and the lower deckhaving, a quadrilateral outline and being supported in diamondwiserelation:to the .seatframing beneaththe uppermost deckby-tension..springs secured to.it's.corners and radiating outwardlytherefrom to anchorage points on thesides. of

the seat framing intermediate thecorners of said framing.

ReferenceszCitedwin-the file'of this patent FGREIGN PATENTS I a 72,035.Switzerland Mar. 16,1916

